Bird: Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis)

Height: 13"

Description: Small, secretive heron resembling a Green Heron in stature but smaller in size. Male has black cap and back and a fine yellow stripe above eye. Female has browner cap and back. Underbelly is creamy with dark streaking. Legs are short and brownish. Bill is long, pointed, and yellow with a dark tip. Juvenile plumage resembles the female but streaking is more pronounced.

Voice: Least Bittern are very often heard before they are seen. Listen for a rounded "ooh, oooh", or a laugh-like "wah,wah,wah,Wahahahah." or a wavering, gargled "ahhhhh. ahhhhh". Audio is available at eNature.com.

Feeding: Perches motionless on reeds that hang near the water, and strikes from perched position. Also picks through dense reeds in search of crayfish, frogs and small mammals. Is known to eat eggs and young birds of other species. In the summer, the Least Bittern has no trouble fishing successfully through thin layers of duckweed. They strike quick, swallow the fish, and then clean the duckweed off their bills with a swipe of a long, thin tongue.

Behavior at Wakodahatchee: Bitterns are very good at camouflage. They stand with their neck erect and bill pointed upward, and sway gently back and forth. In this posture, with their striped breast, it is almost impossible to see them among the reeds. They are a shy species and are difficult to see during the busy winter months. During the summer months they are often out in the open (and very prevalent), but will quickly retreat out of sight under prolonged scrutiny.

Click here for more information on the Least Bittern from eNature.com

In Spring 1999 there was a Least Bittern nest in some reeds to the right of the boardwalk entering the park, just short of the first gazebo. Four or five chicks could be spotted around the area through the beginning of the summer. Throughout the summer, while the crowds were low, I spotted bitterns almost as frequently as Green Herons. They don't seem to be as common during the tourist months. They are very shy birds and might be hiding.